Scene and Heard: School 33 Art Center's Lotta Art event

Photo by Karen Jackson, Special to The Baltimore Sun

Pictured: John Gilligan, Cash Hester and John Shields About 375 art lovers filled the lobby of Silo Point, and spilled onto the terrace for School 33 Art Center's 20th annual Lotta Art benefit. Folks who purchased the event's art ticket were guaranteed one of the 193 artworks on display, which were created and donated by local artists. After the cocktail hour, the artworks were distributed during a lottery-style drawing. A ticket was drawn, the ticket owner's name called out, and the owner gave the assigned number of the piece of art he or she wanted. There were shrieks of excitement when someone heard his or her name, and groans from other folks when a favorite piece was taken. "It's crazy fun; lots of excitement," said Krista Green, Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts assistant cultural affairs director, as she rushed off to help Randi Vega, Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts cultural affairs director, who was in charge of the event. In addition to drinks offered at the bar, the competitive juices were also flowing. Guests examined the exhibition and noted their favorites. John Gilligan, Gertrude's restaurant co-owner, stood in a corner going through the program and marking his favorite works, while his partner, John Shields, Gertrude's chef/co-owner, was still making his way around the room and working on his own list. "... Last year, I was one of the last ones picked. So, my first 20 choices [of art works] were gone. I'm hoping I get picked earlier this year," said Gilligan. This was the third Lotta Art event for Kathy Harvey, Harvey and Daughters president. "And this [will be] the third time that I'm always last. But, I always get my piece," Harvey said, with a laugh. Were artists concerned about their pieces being among the last chosen? "It's OK. It's just fun to be here," said photographer Christine Fillat. "Last year, my piece was chosen in the top three. So, I'm over it," said fellow photographer Jim Burger. For Doreen Bolger, Baltimore Museum of Art director, the Lotta Art event proved a point: "This shows how many amazing artists there are in Baltimore. It shows we should be buying art not just once a year -- but every month, every week, every day." -- Sloane Brown

Pictured: John Gilligan, Cash Hester and John Shields About 375 art lovers filled the lobby of Silo Point, and spilled onto the terrace for School 33 Art Center's 20th annual Lotta Art benefit. Folks who purchased the event's art ticket were guaranteed one of the 193 artworks on display, which were created and donated by local artists. After the cocktail hour, the artworks were distributed during a lottery-style drawing. A ticket was drawn, the ticket owner's name called out, and the owner gave the assigned number of the piece of art he or she wanted. There were shrieks of excitement when someone heard his or her name, and groans from other folks when a favorite piece was taken. "It's crazy fun; lots of excitement," said Krista Green, Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts assistant cultural affairs director, as she rushed off to help Randi Vega, Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts cultural affairs director, who was in charge of the event. In addition to drinks offered at the bar, the competitive juices were also flowing. Guests examined the exhibition and noted their favorites. John Gilligan, Gertrude's restaurant co-owner, stood in a corner going through the program and marking his favorite works, while his partner, John Shields, Gertrude's chef/co-owner, was still making his way around the room and working on his own list. "... Last year, I was one of the last ones picked. So, my first 20 choices [of art works] were gone. I'm hoping I get picked earlier this year," said Gilligan. This was the third Lotta Art event for Kathy Harvey, Harvey and Daughters president. "And this [will be] the third time that I'm always last. But, I always get my piece," Harvey said, with a laugh. Were artists concerned about their pieces being among the last chosen? "It's OK. It's just fun to be here," said photographer Christine Fillat. "Last year, my piece was chosen in the top three. So, I'm over it," said fellow photographer Jim Burger. For Doreen Bolger, Baltimore Museum of Art director, the Lotta Art event proved a point: "This shows how many amazing artists there are in Baltimore. It shows we should be buying art not just once a year -- but every month, every week, every day." -- Sloane Brown (Photo by Karen Jackson, Special to The Baltimore Sun)

Pictured: John Gilligan, Cash Hester and John Shields About 375 art lovers filled the lobby of Silo Point, and spilled onto the terrace for School 33 Art Center's 20th annual Lotta Art benefit. Folks who purchased the event's art ticket were guaranteed one of the 193 artworks on display, which were created and donated by local artists. After the cocktail hour, the artworks were distributed during a lottery-style drawing. A ticket was drawn, the ticket owner's name called out, and the owner gave the assigned number of the piece of art he or she wanted. There were shrieks of excitement when someone heard his or her name, and groans from other folks when a favorite piece was taken. "It's crazy fun; lots of excitement," said Krista Green, Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts assistant cultural affairs director, as she rushed off to help Randi Vega, Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts cultural affairs director, who was in charge of the event. In addition to drinks offered at the bar, the competitive juices were also flowing. Guests examined the exhibition and noted their favorites. John Gilligan, Gertrude's restaurant co-owner, stood in a corner going through the program and marking his favorite works, while his partner, John Shields, Gertrude's chef/co-owner, was still making his way around the room and working on his own list. "... Last year, I was one of the last ones picked. So, my first 20 choices [of art works] were gone. I'm hoping I get picked earlier this year," said Gilligan. This was the third Lotta Art event for Kathy Harvey, Harvey and Daughters president. "And this [will be] the third time that I'm always last. But, I always get my piece," Harvey said, with a laugh. Were artists concerned about their pieces being among the last chosen? "It's OK. It's just fun to be here," said photographer Christine Fillat. "Last year, my piece was chosen in the top three. So, I'm over it," said fellow photographer Jim Burger. For Doreen Bolger, Baltimore Museum of Art director, the Lotta Art event proved a point: "This shows how many amazing artists there are in Baltimore. It shows we should be buying art not just once a year -- but every month, every week, every day." -- Sloane Brown